Apparatus for the production of a tube

ABSTRACT

A machine for producing a large diameter tube from strip sheet metal material comprises a frame, a profiling station and a folding station. The frame comprises lower and upper rings which are connected to one another by vertical posts. The vertical posts carry supporting rollers, which are arranged in the form of a helix with a vertical axis. In operation strip sheet metal is fed to the profiling station where it is bent into a curve having a diameter equal to the required diameter of the tube and profiled so that subsequent turns can be slotted together. The strip is then fed to the folding station, which locks adjacent turns together. As the process procedes the tube being formed is supported by the supporting rollers by a flange formed by the folding operation.

United States Patent [1 1 [111 3,863,479 Lipp Feb. 4, 1975 [5 APPARATUS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF A 3,677,047 7/1972 Holyoake 72/50 TUBE [75] Inventor: Xaver Lipp, Tannhausen Kreis Aslen, Germany [73] Assignee: Silo Verfahrens AG, Zug,

Switzerland [22] Filed: Apr. 2, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 346,987

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Oct. 13, 1972 Germany 2250239 [52] US. Cl. 72/12, 72/50 [51] Int. Cl B2lb 37/00 [58] Field of Search 72/49, 50, 12; 29/429 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,751,672 6/1956 Reed 29/429 3,183,695 5/1965 Darner... 72/49 3,229,487 l/l966 Jensen 72/50 3,380,147 4/1968 McDonald 29/429 3,417,587 12/1968 Campbell 72/50 Primary Examiner-C. W. Lanham Assistant Examiner-Robert M. Rogers Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Roylance, Abrams, Berdo & Kaul [57] ABSTRACT A machine for producing a large diameter tube from strip sheet metal material comprises a frame, a profiling station and a folding station. The frame comprises lower and upper rings which are connected to one another by vertical posts. The vertical posts carry supporting rollers, which are arranged in the form of a helix with a vertical axis. In operation strip sheet metal is fed to the profiling station where it is bent into a curve having a diameter equal to the required diameter of the tube and profiled so that subsequent turns can be slotted together. The strip is then fed to the folding station, which locks adjacent turns together. As the process procedes the tube being formed is supported by the supporting rollers by a flange formed by the folding operation.

16 Claims, 20 Drawing Figures PATENTED M975 3,863,479

SHEET 1 [1F 7 Fig.8 F7519 F1 10 Fly. Fig.7.? Fi .0

APPARATUS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF A TUBE This invention relates to a machine for the production of a large-diameter tube, more particularly a silo, from a sheet-metal strip coiled on a feed reel, comprising a profiling station, which has a path which is constructed to match the bending of the tube wall and extends in offset relationship to the cylinder defined by the tube, and comprising a folding station which is disposed substantially on one side, more particularly on the outside, of the wall of the tube under production, the profiling station and filing station being associated with a frame.

The object of the invention is to provide a machine with which a vertical tube, more particularly a silo, can be readily produced from the ground up, those parts of the machine which are situated inside the tube being adapted to be removed therefrom after the tube or silo has been produced and before the same has been lowered on to the ground.

According to the present invention there is provided a machine for the production of a tube, from a sheetmetal strip coiled on a feed reel comprising a frame of annular construction which is adapted to be erected on the ground, supporting rollers carried by the frame and disposed on a helix at a distance from the bottom end of the frame, and intended to support the tube at a fold therein, a profiling station associated with the frame, adapted to be erected on the ground and having a path which extends next to the helix defined by the supporting rollers in offset relation to the tube, so as to match the bending of the tube wall and a folding station associated with the frame and, which is also disposed on the ground so as to be substantially on one side of the wall of a tube when produced the folding station having a path which coincides with the helix defined by the supporting rollers.

Since the machine stands on the ground together with its frame, profiling station and folding station, the steps of the method required for producing the tube from a sheet metal strip can be carried out from the ground irrespective of the height of the tube or silo, the tube or. silo helix being continued in the upward direction on the supporting rollers during the production operation, in accordance with the strip feed. The bottom end of the finished tube resting on the supporting rollers may have a distance from the ground such that the parts of the machine resting on the ground inside the tube can be removed from the latter before it is lowered to the ground, for which purpose the tube is rotated helically in the opposite direction. The supporting rollers support the tube until it rests on the ground.

In another development of the invention, the supporting roller is mounted on a pivoting arm which is pivotable about a substantially horizontal axis and which is secured against excessive deflection towards the interior of the frame by means of a strap. The supporting rollers can adjust to small diameter variations of the tube or silo and, by their inclined position or by their distance from a reference point, indicate whether the tube is below size or oversize in the region of the frame. If the machine has a separate infinitely controllable drive motor for each of the profiling and folding stations, then advantageously two limit switches for controlling one of the motors are provided on the annular frame in radially spaced relationship between the profiling station and the folding station, the inner switch being used to increase the :speed and the outer switch to reduce the speed of the controlled motor.

An equalizing mechanism may be associated with the folding station to adjust the tube to the required nominal diameter if the latter is exceeded or not attained.

To assist the profiling and folding station drive motors, at least one of the supporting rollers may be provided with a drive comprising an infinitely controllable motor, so that there may be more than two motors to raise the silo helically. This is advantageous particularly in the production of very high and/or large-diameter silos. Silos of a diameter of more than 20 m and a height of more than 20 m may be built by means of the machine.

To prevent layers of strip dropping as a result of uneven silo drive with consequent umcoiling of the reel due to its inertia, the reel is surrounded by a boundary ring which is open on one side and which limits any increase in the feed reel diameter.

Other advantageous features of the invention will be apparent from the claims, the description and the drawing. The latter is a diagrammatic illustration of one exemplified embodiment of the subject matter of the invention showing a machine for the production of a silo.

FIG. I is a top plan view of the apparatus of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a section in top plan view through a profilin g station on the line IIII in FIG. 3 to a different scale.

FIG. 3 is a section in side elevation on the line llllll in FIG. 2 again to a different scale.

FIG. 4 is a detail of FIG. 1 showing a folding station to an enlarged scale and in top plan.

FIG. 5 is a section in side elevation on the line V-V in FIG. 4 to a different scale.

FIG. 6 is a section on the line VI--VI in FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is a plan view of a supporting roller drive.

FIGS. 8 to 13 show variously profiled ends of a metal strip.

FIGS. 14 to 18 show different stages in joining adjacent edges of the strip by folding, to a different scale.

FIG. 19 is a graph showing the fold width against the diameter.

FIG. 20 is a perspective view in schematic form of the apparatus of the invention.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 20 the apparatus of the present invention comprises a frame I, a profiling station 15, a folding station 53 and a reel 83, all supported on the ground.

The annular frame bearing the general reference 1 comprises a top ring 2 and a bottom ring 3. Each of the rings 2, 3 is formed from annular segments which are adapted to be detached from one another and which are sub-divided into convenient portions. The top ring 2 and the bottom ring 3 are interconnected in spaced relationship by vertical posts 4 (See FIG. 6) which are made up of a rectangular or circular hollow sectionmember and which are disposed at uniform intervals. In the exemplified embodiment shown in FIG. 1, there are ten posts, and the top and bottom rings are each sub-divided into three.

Referring to FIG. 6, a pivoting arm 5 is mounted on each of the posts 4 with a substantially horizontal axis so as to pivot towards the inside of the annular frame I. The range of pivoting movement of the pivoting arm is limited by a strap 6 which is formed with a slot to receive a stop member secured to the post 4. A supporting roller 7 is mounted rotatably at the free end of each pivoting arm 5. A co-acting roller 8 disposed on the same pivoting arm 5 may be associated with the supporting roller 7 to prevent the fold from opening in the tube under production. A bracket 9 which projects radially inwards is disposed on one of the posts and bears two limit switches 10 and 11 in radially spaced relationship.

A profiling station 15 is provided on the inside of the annular frame 1 near one of the supporting rollers 7 and has, in each of two planes, eight cooperating roller groups, more particularly pairs of rollers disposed with their axis at right angles to the helix under production, FIG. 3 showing the top and bottom fifth pairs of rollers 18 and 19. Instead of one substantially vertical-axis roller disposed more particularly at the top, it is possible to provide two substantially horizontal-axis rollers, so that three rollers cooperate. The rollers of the profiling station 15 are so constructed and disposed that the side edges of a sheet-metal strip are bent as shown in FIGS. 8 13.

Referring to FIG. 3, superposed coaxial rollers are each disposed on identical substantially vertical shafts 22 and 23 respectively. While the shaft 22 is disposed in a fixed position between a top plate 24 and a base plate 25, the shaft 23 can be adjusted transversely of its axis, for which purpose an adjustment mechanism is provided in the region of each bearing. The adjustment mechanism comprises a U-shaped frame 26 which is secured to the top plate 24 and the base plate 25, and between the limbs of which a bush which receives a bearing and which has a square outer periphery, is slidable horizontally. To limit the sliding movement of the bush 27 away from the shaft 22 a set-screw 28 is provided, said screw being screwed into the web of the frame 26. The bearings at the two ends of the shaft 23 are adjustable in the same way.

As shown in FIG. 3, the top plate 24 and the base plate are interconnected on the left-hand side by a supporting tube 30, a set-screw 31 and annular segments 32 34 disposed therebetween. Apertures for the passage of the set-screw 28 are provided above the annular segment 32 and in the annular segment 34. On the right-hand side of the drawing, a supporting bar is provided, which has a screw-thread at each end, is nonadjustable, and bears at the top a supporting plate 36 provided with the top plate 24, the bottom of said bar being screwed into the base plate 25. A motor support 37 is secured to the supporting bar 38 at a distance from the base plate 25.

If two substantially horizontal-axis and possibly adjustable rollers are provided instead of one substantially vertical-axis roller, a substantially vertical shaft disposed below or above the two rollers extends only as far as the annular segment 33. A short shaft of this kind is adjustable at the annular segment 33 in the same way as the shaft 23 is in relation to the annular segments 32 and 34. l

The bottom end of each of the substantially vertical shafts is provided with an identical gearwheel, the gearwheels of associated pairs of shafts, for example shafts 22 and 23, being in mesh with one another. Between two meshing pairs of gearwheels an intermediate gearwheel 43 is provided in each case so that when one of the intermediate gearwheels is driven via a drive wheel 44 of a transmission 45 all the gearwheels are jointly drivable by an infinitely controllable drive motor 46.

A raisable and lowerable wheel 48 is provided at each of the two large-area sides of the profiling station and is mounted for rotation in a U-shaped carriage 49, which is adapted to be raised and lowered by means of 5 a set-screw 50. The carriage 49 is guided in a T-shaped recess of a guide track 51. During operation, the profiling station 15 bears on its base plate 25 and can be moved along by means of the wheels 48.

FIGS. 4 and 5 show the folding station. It is disposed on an inclined table 54 in the form of annular segments, said table being inclined longitudinally in accordance with the pitch of a helix and transversely thereto, as described hereinafter. Four folding units 55 are disposed on the table 54, each folding unit being of identical construction except for its folding rollers 56, 57 (FIG. 5). A transmission gear is disposed between a base part 58 and two side walls 59 and 60 and comprises a substantially vertical drive shaft 61 with a drive sprocket wheel 62 and a bevel gear 63 meshing with a bevel gear disposed on a substantially horizontal shaft 65 and bearing the folding roller 56 at the end remote from said bevel gear. The folding roller 57 is disposed on a shaft 66 so as to rotate therewith, said shaft being mounted so as to be pivotable away from the roller and being connected to the shaft 64 via a gearwheel transmission 67, the pivoted position being adjustable by means of a set-screw 68 which is borne against the side wall, the position of the folding roller 57 relatively to the folding roller 56 depending on the thickness of the fold.

The inclination of the table 54 in the radial direction is such that in the position of the folding rollers 56 and 57 shown in FIG. 5 the angle bisector is situated substantially horizontally between the axes of the shafts 65 and 66. Consequently, the folding rollers 56 and 57 abut the fold only at the adjacent sides, while there is a gap between the other parts of the rollers 56 and 57 and the tube or silo under production.

The folding station 53 is adapted to be driven by a drive motor 69, which drives the individual folding units 55 via chains, a tensioning wheel 70 being provided in each case between each two folding units and between a folding unit and the motor. The drive is so constructed that each chain interconnects only two sprocket wheels, so that a pair of drive sprocket wheels 62 is arranged one above the other at the folding units 55 adjacent the drive motor 69.

The folded joints shown in FIGS. 14 18 are produced at the folding station 53.

A helically extending table 73 is disposed at the table 54 by means of yokes 72 and bears a plurality of (six in this case) radially slidable co-acting rollers 74 of an equalizing mechanism. Each of the op-acting rollers is mounted in a bearing 75, the outer square periphery of which is slidable in a yoke 76 engaging around it in the form of a U on the table 73, a set-screw 77 being screwed into the web of the yoke and being adjustable against the bearing.

A co-acting roller 74a is disposed above each of the co-acting rollers 74 and its bearing is constructed in the same way and is transversely slidable in the same way as the bearing of the co-acting roller 74, although the yoke 78 in this case engages around the bearing of the co-acting roller 74 at least at its underside. The yokes 78 are secured to a retaining plate 79 disposed thereabove and borne relatively to the table 73 by supports 80.

The co-acting rollers 74 are adjustable against the bottom part of a screw-thread and the co-acting rollers 74a are adjustable against that part of the screw-thread of the tube which is situated thereabove and which is separated by the fold. By means of each separately adjustable co-acting roller, the sheet-metal strip can be pressed into the folding rollers and it is possible to vary the tube diameter within given limits.

Only a few operations are required to dismantle the machine into readily transportable parts, the annular frame 1 being dismantled while the profiling station and the folding station 53 are removed from the annular frame, the yokes 72 being removable from the table 54.

As shown in FIG. 1, a reel 83 is disposed next to the profiling station 15 and serves to receive a reel of strip. A guide mechanism is provided to guide the strip before entry to the profiling station 15 at the side wall thereof adjacent the reel 83, said side wall having a substantially vertical slot, the guide mechanism comprising a guide plate which at this side is vertically adjustable and, in particular, is formed with a slot and a top guide member and a bottom guide member 84 for the strip are disposed preferably adjustably at said guide plate. The correct width of the fold required to be produced in the profiling station can be adjusted by means of the guide members. The latter project about 30 cm beyond the guide plate and extend approximately as far as the first roller, while the bottom guide member 84 can project further as illustrated. By means of the guide members the strip can be pressed downwardly or upwardly as it enters the profiling station 115. The guide members may be straight or curved and be disposed at an angle. The stationary part of the reel 83 has a boundary ring 85 which is open in the direction of the annular frame 1 and which surrounds the sheet metal reel in spaced relationship and prevents excessive increase in the diameter of the reel if the speed of the rotary movement thereof is reduced.

FIG. 7 illustrates a drivable supporting roller 7a mounted on a shaft 87 and being adapted to be driven via a V-belt 100 (shown in phantom) by means of an infinitely speed-variable drive motor 88. The shaft 87 is mounted in a frame 89 disposed on one side of one of the posts 4, on the other side of which the drive motor 88 is disposed on a base plate 90 connected to the frame 89. The frame 89 and the base plate 90 may be connected to the associated post either rigidly or by means of a pivoting arm 5. A gearwheel mounted on the shaft 87 may be used to drive a co-acting roller 8 mounted in the frame 89.

In order to produce a silo, the machine is assembled in the arrangement shown in FIG. 1 at the erection site which has been prepared by means of a concrete slab or the like, the distance between the two rings 2 and 3 of the annular frame 1 preferably being greater than twice the pitch of the helix of the tube under production, the strip path determined by the roller path in the profiling station extending a slight distance from the helix determined by the supporting rollers 7. The top ring of the annular frame 1 may also extend helically, while the superposed ends may be interconnected by a vertical connecting portion. The top supporting roller 7 is preferably at a level equivalent at least to twice the pitch of the tube under construction.

The strip path within the profiling station 15 is so devised that the edges of the strip are bent as shown in FIGS. 8 to 13 while the part of the strip situated therebetween is at the same time bent according to the diameter of the tube under production.

Coming from the reel 83, the strip is fed to the profiling station 15 and then, as shown in FIG. 6, is borne by its top bent edge by the supporting rollers 7, the top rim thereof bearing in contact always in the region of the bend situated at the vertical wall of the tube. The strip is taken by its bottom end between the limit switches 10 and ll, the outer limit switch reducing the speed of the drive motor 46 of the profiling station 15 while the limit switch 11 reduces its speed so that it is controlled according to the speed of the drive motor 69 of the folding station 53. After the limit switches 10, II. the strip which has been bent at both edges is passed through the folding station, where the adjacent edges of the strip are interconnected by folding as shown in FIGS. 15 18, after prior engagement as shown in FIG. 14, as soon as two turns are disposed one above the other.

The tube or silo is produced continuously as described above, the tube being slowly formed into a helix in the upward direction according to the required height. As soon as this has been reached, the tube is cut off level at the bottom. The profiling station 15 and the reel 83 are removed from the interior of the annular frame 1, and the same applies to the inner parts of the folding station 53 and the equalizing mechanism 74, 74a, and the bracket 9 with the limit switches 10 and 11. The tube is then lowered by rotation in the opposite direction until it rests on the ground.

FIG. 19 is a graph showing favourable fold widths F in mm against the diameter D in m of the tube and against the thickness of the strip, the curve a applying to a strip thickness of 1-2.5 mm, and curve b applying to a strip thickness of 2-5 mm, and curve c a strip thickness of 4-8 mm. Tolerances of i 50 percent from the indicated values are possible.

I claim:

1. A machine for the production of a tube, from a sheet metal strip coiled on a feed reel comprising:

a frame of annular construction which is supported on the ground, the longitudinal axis of said frame being substantially vertical;

supporting rollers carried by said frame and disposed on a helical path extending upward from the bottom end of said frame and supporting the tube at a fold therein, said helical path and said tube supported thereon having substantially vertical longitudinal axes;

a profiling station supported on the ground adjacent said frame and having roller means for defining a path which extends adjacent said helical path defined by said supporting rollers in offset relation to the tube so as to match the bending of the tube wall; and

a folding station adjacent said frame and which is also disposed on the ground so as to be substantially on one side of the wall of the tube when produced, the folding station having a path which coincides with said helical path defined by said supporting roller and which receives the tube,

said profiling station roller means also bending the metal strip, modifying the profile of the metal strip and moving the metal strip through said profiling station,

said folding station having means for folding adjacent profiled edges of the strip together,

said frame comprising a bottom ring supported on the ground,

a top ring disposed above said bottom ring, and

a plurality of vertical posts interconnecting said top and bottom rings.

2. A machine according to claim 1, in which the distance between said top and bottom rings is greater than twice the pitch of the helix defined by said supporting rollers.

3. A machine according to claim 1 in which each supporting roller is mounted on a pivoting arm which is pivotable about a substantially horizontal axis and which is secured against excessive deflection towards the interior of the frame by means of a strap.

4. A machine according to claim 3, in which each pivoting arm is pivotally mounted on a vertical post.

5. A machine according to claim 1, in which an upper roller is disposed to coact with each supporting roller.

6. A machine according to claim 1, in which a separate steplessly variable drive motor is provided for each of the profiling station and the folding station, and two limit switches for controlling one of the motors are provided on the annular frame in radially spaced relationship between the profiling station and the folding station, the inner switch being used to increase the rotary speed and the outer switch to reduce the rotary speed of the controlled motor.

7. A machine according to claim 1, in which an equalizing mechanism is provided for the folding station.

8. A machine according to claim 1, in which the frame comprises a plurality of detachable parts.

9. A machine according to claim 1, in which the folding station comprises individual folding units each having at least one pair of rollers.

10. A machine according to claim 9 in which the axes of rollers of each folding unit are disposed, in operation of the machine, at an angle to the wall of the tube under production such that those parts of the rollers which are remote from the fold are at a distance from the tube wall.

11. A machine according to claim 1, in which at least one supporting roller is provided with a drive comprising a steplessly variable drive motor.

12. A machine according to claim 11, in which a slipping coupling is provided between the supporting roller and the variable drive motor.

13. A machine according to claim 12, in which the slipping coupling is a V-belt.

14. A machine according to claim 1, in which a reel winch is provided for unwinding the feed reel and comprises a boundary ring which is open on one side and which surrounds the feed reel.

15. A machine according to claim 14 in which an adjustable mechanism for guiding the sheet metal strip is provided between the reel winch and the profiling station.

16. A machine according to claim 1, in which the folding station is disposed substantially to the outside of the tube wall under production during operation of the machine. 

1. A machine for the production of a tube, from a sheet metal strip coiled on a feed reel comprising: a frame of annular construction which is supported on the ground, the longitudinal axis of said frame being substantially vertical; supporting rollers carried by said frame and disposed on a helical path extending upward from the bottom end of said frame and supporting the tube at a fold therein, said helical path and said tube supported thereon having substantially vertical longitudinal axes; a profiling station supported on the ground adjacent said frame and having roller means for defining a path which extends adjacent said helical path defined by said supporting rollers in offset relation to the tube so as to match the bending of the tube wall; and a folding station adjacent said frame and which is also disposed on the ground so as to be substantially on one side of the wall of the tube when produced, the folding station having a path which coincides with said helical path defined by said supporting roller and which receives the tube, said profiling station roller means also bending the metal strip, modifying the profile of the metal strip and moving the metal strip through said profiling station, said folding station having means for folding adjacent profiled edges of the strip together, said frame comprising a bottom ring supported on the ground, a top ring disposed above said bottom ring, and a plurality of vertical posts interconnecting said top and bottom rings.
 2. A machine according to claim 1, in which the distance between said top and bottom rings is greater than twice the pitch of the helix defined by said supporting rollers.
 3. A machine according to claim 1 in which each supporting roller is mounted on a pivoting arm which is pivotable about a substantially horizontal axis and which is secured against excessive deflection towards the interior of the frame by means of a strap.
 4. A machine according to claim 3, in which each pivoting arm is pivotally mounted on a vertical post.
 5. A machine according to claim 1, in which an upper roller is disposed to coact with each supporting roller.
 6. A machine according to claim 1, in which a separate steplessly variable drive motor is provided for each of the profiling station and the folding station, and two limit switches for controlling one of the motors are provided on the annular frame in radially spaced relationship between the profiling station and the folding station, the inner switch being used to increase the rotary speed and the outer switch to reduce the rotary speed of the controlled motor.
 7. A machine according to claim 1, in which an equalizing mechanism is provided for the folding station.
 8. A machine according to claim 1, in which the frame comprises a plurality of detachable parts.
 9. A machine according to claim 1, in which the folding station comprises individual folding units each having at least one pair of rollers.
 10. A machine according to claim 9 in which the axes of rollers of each folding unit are disposed, in operation of the machine, at an angle to the wall of the tube under production such that those parts of the rollers which aRe remote from the fold are at a distance from the tube wall.
 11. A machine according to claim 1, in which at least one supporting roller is provided with a drive comprising a steplessly variable drive motor.
 12. A machine according to claim 11, in which a slipping coupling is provided between the supporting roller and the variable drive motor.
 13. A machine according to claim 12, in which the slipping coupling is a V-belt.
 14. A machine according to claim 1, in which a reel winch is provided for unwinding the feed reel and comprises a boundary ring which is open on one side and which surrounds the feed reel.
 15. A machine according to claim 14 in which an adjustable mechanism for guiding the sheet metal strip is provided between the reel winch and the profiling station.
 16. A machine according to claim 1, in which the folding station is disposed substantially to the outside of the tube wall under production during operation of the machine. 